Adventures in genealogy

Archive for December, 2010

For the past few years I’ve enjoyed taking time on December 31st to reflect on the previous year. I look forward to the new year and always make big plans on what I hope to do, or learn, or accomplish. But I always feel that before I can move on, I want to take one more look at the preceding twelve months and remember what I did, learned, and accomplished. 2010 was definitely a year of transition for me. I am not yet entirely certain what it is that I am transitioning towards, but I know that it looks different from what I thought I knew. I can also see how far I’ve come and how much I’ve changed within.

In my world of genealogy, it was a year of highs and lows much like my personal life. The genealogy highlight of the year was attending the NGS conference in Salt Lake City – spending hours researching in the library and meeting all of my blogging friends was wonderful! Later in the year, I visited Ellis Island for the very first time with genealogist friends and we had a great weekend in New York City. In my research, I found some success on my Piątkowski line by finding my great-grandfather’s birth record in Warsaw. Polish birth records from the early 1800s helped me fill in the names of eight 4th greats and four 5th greats.

In February, What’s Past is Prologue was named as one of Family Tree Magazine’s Top 40 genealogy blogs, and later in the year it was nominated for 2011. But, this blog became one of my “lows” because I just didn’t write often enough. Sometimes it was a result of being busy with fun things in my personal life, but other times it was because I was at a “low” and just didn’t care enough about genealogy or anything else to put any words on paper.

In my family, my mother had a milestone birthday as she turned 75. Earlier in the year we had an enjoyable lunch with two of our Zawodny cousins. My nieces and nephews continued to grow (literally, as the oldest is now quite taller than me) and they brightened my days every day I spent some time with them. My friendships changed this year when some of my closer friends were kept distant for various reasons and some of my newer friends got closer. Through Facebook, I found an old friend – and didn’t realize how much I missed him until we were back talking and laughing like the old days.

My travels were limited this year, and it was my first year without a trip to Europe in quite a while. Other than Salt Lake City and New York, I had a few work trips to unexotic and unsunny locations – but one included a first-time visit with Jasia that was so much fun! Every year I promise myself that I’ll get to the beach more than once. And I can’t believe this is the third year in a row where I admit I had only ONE beach day. At least if I could only have one day there, this one was very memorable!

I kept myself entertained throughout the year with the usual assortment of fun dinners with friends as well as movies, books, and music. Early in the year a new friend helped remind me of how much I enjoy movies as he introduced me to several I had missed over the years. I’m a big reader, but this year I really seemed to read a lot – so much that I wish I had kept a list of all the books. In fact, if I had spent all my reading time writing a book myself, it would have been finished in no time! Sheri Fenley got me started on the Outlander novels by Diana Gabaldon –the first was written twenty years ago, and now there are 7 rather lengthy novels. I blew through all seven quickly this summer – about 7,000 pages! Other favorite discoveries were thriller authors Gayle Lynds and Christopher Reich, and Sarah Dunant’s Sacred Hearts. I tried to set the tone for my year in January by reading Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project and James Martin’s The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything. Both will be re-read soon so their messages can sink in a little better!

The soundtrack for the first half of my year was Dan Wilson’s Free Life. Although it wasn’t realeased this year, his haunting melodies and lyrics soothed my spirit considerably. Two albums that were released this year that got me moving and singing were Hanson’s Shout it Out and the Indigo Girls’ newest live album, Staring Down the Brilliant Dream. Through a unique series of happy accidents, I attended an Indigo Girls concert in October, and it was the best concert I have ever attended. Most of their songs have brilliant lyrics that are more poetic that anything I studied in my English literature classes. I eagerly awaited new releases from two of my favorite groups, the Gin Blossoms and Sister Hazel. Surprisingly, both albums disappointed me. In a completely different end of the musical spectrum, I saw John Michael Talbot perform for the first time in about twenty years with my brother – listening to JMT and spending time with my brother both brought back some memories of the old days!

My “year of transition” brought me many new things. I started the year ending a long-term relationship. I took a chance and started a new one, which didn’t last, but despite the ending I wouldn’t change a thing. At least I took a chance, I had fun while it lasted, and he introduced me to quite a few things that are now a part of my life even though he is not. I’m ending the year enjoying satellite tv, Boddington’s and Palm beers, a mold-free basement, a heated kitchen for the first time in eight years, and my acne resurgence is under control. Sometimes things don’t turn out the way you plan, but (to quote a Semisonic album), I’m feeling strangely fine.

Some people devise a “word” to guide them through the next year, almost as a mantra. I’m too long-winded for one word, so I thought of a few phrases to remember next year to help me be the person I want to be. Yesterday I wrote about my genealogical goals; I have an even longer list of personal goals that I’d like to accomplish – which, if I’m having enough fun, may actually prevent me from getting to any genealogy goals. My vision for 2011:

reach out – create – don’t wait – breathe – don’t give up

Bring it on!

Counting down from ten it’s time
To make your annual prayer
Secret Santa in the sky
When will I get my share

Then you tell yourself
What you want to hear
Cause you have to believe
This will be my year

It’s that time of year again! The 101st edition of the Carnival of Genealogy asks us to make our genealogy research and writing plans for 2011. But before I can look ahead, it’s time to take a peek in the rear-view mirror for a moment because one year ago today in the 87th COG I listed my genea-resolutions for this year. How did I do? Well, I said I would:

Go to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City – DONE! I attended the National Genealogical Society Family History Conference in April, 2010. While I was there, I was able to complete a lot of research in the library and I had a great time meeting my genealogy and blogging friends.

Go back one more generation – FAILED, but not for a lack of trying. My main goal was to find the birth record of my great-grandmother, Elizabeth Miller Pater. I tried, and my hired researcher tried, but it hasn’t been accomplished – yet. I chose two other lines to “go back” on but didn’t quite get to those either. It’s too bad I didn’t name my Zawodny and Ślesiński lines last year, because I did go back one more on each.

Keep writing – FAILED MISERABLY with too few posts here and almost no magazine articles (only one published this year, and one that’s been “on hold” by the magazine for about eight months).

Find photographs – FAILED. I can’t believe I can meet so many second cousins virtually and in person and not see a single photograph of any of my grandparents or great-grandparents. Maybe next year…

That was then, this is now. The best thing about celebrating the New Year is starting over, and you need a plan to get started. I tried listing just a few things last year and didn’t quite accomplish them. But I’m pretty optimistic this week after a not-so-great-year, and I’m ready for new challenges. So why not come up with eleven goals for 2011? (Note To Self when I read this next year: don’t wait until the last minute to write your “goals for next year” post, and do it before drinking some wine.)

Here is what I hope to accomplish with my genealogy in 2011 (in no particular order of importance):

The following article first appeared on December 8, 2009for my The Humor of It…Through a Different Lens column for Shades of the Departed magazine. footnoteMaven has graciously allowed me to reprint my Humor of It articles here on What’s Past is Prologue.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Ah, Christmas…it’s the most wonderful time of the year! Or is it? For some children, it’s the time of year to be scared to death. First, there’s the whole threat of “being good” or else! The mere thought of not getting any presents is certainly scary, but there is something about Christmas that isn’t all happy and jolly. In fact, it instills more fear in young children than a Halloween haunted house – it’s Santa’s Little Workshop of Horrors and the annual photo with Santa!

Santa has a reputation of being a happy and fun kind of guy. After all, he brings you toys for no apparent reason. That’s a guy any child would love, right? Then why is that big fat guy with a bushy beard so absolutely terrifying for so many children? It’s the terror that makes the annual “photo with Santa” such a delight for adults. Parents, determined to get that holiday photo no matter what, gratefully accept the photo even if the child has an expression of fear and terror and tears flowing like a river. Years later these photos are funny, but one can only imagine that it wasn’t that funny at the time for all involved – the scared child, the parent who has to calm them, and poor Santa who has to withstand the screams. I hope the malls provide ear protection with the red suit.

Here’s an exasperated Santa from 1977 who is wondering if it’s time to go home yet (or if the eggnog is nearby):

Aw, what are you crying for Sis? At least you aren't dressed the same as us! (Photo courtesy of Alleah Bucs Pointkouski)

Fast forward to 2006…the formerly terrified child is now a mom, so it’s time to take her daughter to visit Santa. Did she not remember her own terror? You know what they say, “Like mother, like daughter!”

Aaaaaaahhhhh!!!!! (Photo courtesy of Alleah Bucs Pointkouski)

But, by now Grandmom knew the tricks to a happy photo – candy canes for all! Or maybe it was Santa himself who learned this trick over the years – if the kids have something to put in their mouth like a pacifier, they aren’t nearly as loud.

By the time we reach adulthood, we really seem to forget how to think like a child. This may be why the child’s fear of Santa comes as such a surprise to the parents. If you’re a parent who will be taking a little one for the annual Santa photo, let me remind you of a few things. First, no matter how happy or friendly Santa actually looks with that whole jolly persona and twinkle in his eye, there is something menacing about him. Think about it…he sees you when you’re sleeping? He knows when you’re awake? That’s a bit stalkerish, don’t you think? For years we tell our children not to talk to strangers, but there’s this apparently omnipotent dude that you see once a year and have to be nice and smile for the camera. Mark my words – children pick up on this incongruity!

No, Mommy, not without a candy cane! (Photo courtesy of Alleah Bucs Pointkouski)

It must be quite a challenge to be a photographer for Santa. Even if you manage to get a nice, happy expression on the faces of the children, there’s always the distinct possibility that Santa himself may screw up your holiday photo. After all, which is the worse or the two? Being the frightened child who has to sit on Santa’s lap, or being Santa? Santa, who, hour after hour and day after day, has lines and lines of children who want to see you. Well, most of them want to see you…but then there are the few, the screaming, the scared. It must be far worse to be Santa with a headache from all the high decibel screams than it is to be the crying child. The children get over it with age and perhaps some therapy, but Santa has to put up with hundreds of screaming children every December.

Even if Santa doesn’t get a screamer, there’s the endless litany of “gimme” requests that’s enough to drive a teetotaller to the bottle of Jamison’s. Every household seems to have at least one photo of Santa who looks as though he’s had a few. But, who can blame him after all?

Oh, crud, did this kid just pee on me? (Photo courtesy of Sheri Fenley)

Yo, Bro, let's get out of here - Mom dressed us alike again and Santa smells like booze! (Photo courtesy of Alleah Bucs Pointkouski)

What’s the secret to a good photo with Santa? Maybe if Santa were closer in age and size, he wouldn’t be scary at all but cute and cuddly!

Mommy, I want to keep this Santa! (Photo courtesy of Alleah Bucs Pointkouski)

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For More Fun:

If you want to see more photos of children who are scared of Santa, visit the Chicago Tribune “Scared of Santa” photo gallery.

Also, there is a collection of photos in a book called Scared of Santa: Scenes of Terror in Toyland by Denise Joyce and Nancy Watkins. (Harper Paperbacks, 2008)

This post was originally published on December 21, 2008, and it was repeated again on the same date in 2009. I wanted to repeat it yet again for new visitors who missed it previously. You’ll notice that I left in the reference to Terry Thornton of Hill Country of Monroe County…a click on the link will take you to Terry’s obituary at his blog. Terry left this earth on August 9th this year, but I really couldn’t bring myself to change this parody from how I originally wrote it (and I still have the feed to his dormant blog in my blog reader). In 2008, Terry commented on this post with his signature line: “What FUN!”

Santa is definitely going to put us all on the naughty list if we don’t get around to researching his family tree soon! ﻿﻿﻿Merry Christmas to all!

‘Twas just days before Christmas and all through the ‘net
Bloggers were quiet, even the Graveyard Rabbit.
Some were snowed in, all covered in ice
With some frightful weather that’s really not nice.

Others were busy with presents and wrap,
While some settled in for a long winter’s nap.
But then Genea-Santa made it home from the mall
And with urgency put out a very frantic call.

“Oh genea-bloggers, can you help me so?
Someone has asked for their ancestors to know.
I’m used to toys, books, and games on the list,
My elves tried Ancestry.com and can’t get the gist.”

“Can you please help?” good Santa did ask,
“So I can complete this impossible task?”
Before Old St. Nick barely finished his post
The bloggers started to answer, from coast to coast.

Steve and Miriam and DearMyrtle too
Used Census and newspapers to find every last clue.
The charts were all filled and ready for Santa’s sack,
Combined we had traced twelve generations back!

Santa was impressed, the pedigree had nary a hole
“Can you help me find my folks from the North Pole?”
We said we’d try, maybe next year.
Our promise left him jolly and full of good cheer.

So he subscribed to our blogs, to join in our fun
And said he’d return when his hard work was done
Santa signed off, having found what he sought
“Merry Christmas to all, may your searching not be for naught!”

-with many apologies to and great appreciation of Mr. Clement Clarke Moore…(and apologies to the many genealogy bloggers I left out for space and rhyming constraints!)

“Donna’s Picks” is my occasional feature to highlight other blogs, posts, or articles that may be of interest to my fellow genealogists. Sit back and enjoy the following links:

Creativity and Genealogy – Daniel Hubbard of Personal Past Meditations muses on The Creative Act. Is genealogy just facts and figures, or can it be a creative pursuit? Read Daniel’s answer, especially the penultimate paragraph which beautifully explains how genealogy can be a creative act.

On the other hand… – Steve Danko of Steve’s Genealogy Blog explains Applying the Scientific Method to Genealogical Research (Part 1). While the story of your family’s history is definitely enhnaced with creative acts, actually finding the history is next to impossible without applying a little bit of scientific thought. Looking to develop some research plans next year? Don’t even try it without using Steve’s methods found in his 5-part series.

One of my favorite records – Learn what you can find by investigating draft registration cards at pursuits of a desperate genie. Genie talks about all the cool things you can find out about your ancestors in these records, which are why they are one of my favorites, too.

My Christmas Gift to Me – I just got a new Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner and I can’t wait to try it out. What convinced me to buy it was Janine Smith’s review at Tip Squirrel. Read her Flip-Pal Mobile Scanner Review and I bet you ask Santa for one, too!

In case you missed it, Jasia posted the Call for Submissions for the 101st Carnival of Genealogy at Creative Gene. And don’t forget to vote for Family Tree Magazine’s Best Genealogy Blogs for 2011 – last call is midnight on Monday!

Once again, Family Tree Magazine has announced the nominees for the “40 Best Genealogy Blogs” for 2011. And once again, I’m honored to be in the running – thanks for anyone who nominated What’s Past is Prologue. There are many great genealogy blogs on the list! The voting polls close at midnight on December 20th, so head on over to the voting page where you can choose 5 nominees in the following categories: Everything, Cemeteries, Technology, Heritage Groups, Research Advice/How-to, Local/Regional Research, New Blogs, and My Family History. Results will be announced in the magazine’s July 2011 issue.

Psst…What’s Past is Prologue is in the “My Family History” category! If you’re a fan, please cast a vote!

Are you ready for some Christmas carols? Today it’s time for the esteemed tradition of Christmas blog caroling! This great tradition was begun by footnoteMaven and continues this year as genealogy bloggers everywhere “sing” their favorite carols.﻿ And the very best part is – you don’t have to hear us sing (trust me, if you’ve never heard me sing, it really is a good thing).

﻿”Donna’s Picks” is my occasional feature to highlight other blogs, posts, or articles that may be of interest to my fellow genealogists. Sit back and enjoy the following links:

Making the Past Alive in the Present – Via a travel blog I read called Vagabondish, I found a post called Reviving the Ghosts of Amsterdam. It points to twelve photographs at My Modern Met also called Ghosts of Amsterdam. All I can say is “Wow!” Anyone who loves old photos – and what genealogist doesn’t? – will be blown away. The Met article includes a brief interview with the photographer, ﻿﻿Jo Hedwig Teeuwisse. Of course, we have a similar talent in our midst – Jasia at Creative Gene did the same thing last year with Melancholy Too and it was equally brilliant. This is definitely on my “to do” list for next year.

Myth-Buster Extraordinaire – Leslie Albrecht Huber at The Journey Takers Blog busts the “name change” myth in ﻿Your Family’s Name Was Not Changed at Ellis Island. I laughed out loud when she calls it the #2 myth next to the “I’m-descended-from-royalty/Indian-princess/Charlemagne/noble-who-fell-in-love-with-a-peasant-girl-and-stowed-away-on-a-ship-to-America-in-order-to-escape-thePrussian-military myth.”

Jesus’ Matrilineal Ancestry? – Scholars and medieval legends think that Mary’s grandmother was Ismeria, a descendant of King David. Read more at Jesus’ Great-Grandmother Identified.

It’s time for a much needed humor break, so welcome to the 2nd annual Festival of Strange Search Terms. In August, 2009, I unleashed a flurry of amazingly bizarre yet true search terms that people used to “find” this blog in What are They Looking For? I have not been faithful at keeping track of the daily search terms and saving the “good” ones to make fun of publicize here – the free WordPress statistics thingy doesn’t archive every term and only counts the most recent unless you have many searches for the same terms. Candidates for those multiple searches are not the, ahem, Exciting Topics but the “normal” searches like “Gene Kelly” (over 2,500 in the past year), Philadelphia marriage records (over 1,200), “meaning of What’s Past is Prologue” (300, usually around exam time), and the name of my childhood friend who I’ve only mentioned in two photo captions (34). But I really should check every day because I’m guaranteed a chuckle a few times a week at the very least. Once again, I’m amazed that people enter these phrases into the search engine of their choice. And I’m amazed that they somehow wind up here using those phrases. May I now present you with the best of the strange, odd, and downright scary search terms that have brought many visitors here in 2010 (note: these are actual search terms used):

GENEALOGY RELATED…SORT OF

can’t find marriage – Yeah, me neither. Do you really have to rub it in?

renegade records philadelphia – Well, I’m certainly intrigued. I’d love to learn more about these records myself…I’m sure I have a few renegades in my family!

someone came on a boat to united states – Here’s a hint…you might want to be a teensy bit more specific if you’re seaching for your ancestor. I’ve heard there were actually lots of people that came on a boat to the United States.

only had six great great grandparents – Hmm. I’m pretty sure you had sixteen unless there was quite a bit of either incest or first-cousin marriages.

VAGUE SEARCHES

german man – I really hope this wasn’t a beginner genealogist’s first attempt at a query!

my ancestors that are from the past – As opposed to your ancestors that are from the future?

unusual situation – I’ve mentioned a few in this blog, but you are looking for one because…?

what + (past)? – Haven’t + (clue)!

MAKE ME LOL

super-finder of passenger arrival record – Yes, that’s me! How may I help you?

name labeling for babies – Labeling?!

family portrait dog 60’s – Many genealogists search for portraits of their ancestors. Or their dogs.

regal family photo shoot – Oh, they must have been looking for the final photo on this post.

patron saint of parking – Thanks to Dr. Danko’s comment, I’ll get this one a lot from now on.

facebook from the past – I’m fairly certain my grandparents didn’t have Facebook back in the 1930s.

REALLY?

recruitment posters american revolution – Did they have them? Wasn’t secrecy best when it comes to seditious rebellion?

shakespeare baptism act church – I can only wonder if the searcher wants to know about Shakespeare’s own baptism or one he wrote about. Either/or, I’m relatively sure I didn’t write about it!

take me back to december 31, 1957 – Wait, let me gas up the Delorean!

what is “*” – Maybe this one belongs under “Make Me LOL”

may i ask what this is in regards to?– Funny, I have the same question!

So there you have it! The next edition of this search term carnival will include more bizarre, freakish, and unusual ways that bring me more traffic! If you’re a genealogy blogger, do you encounter these strange and unusual researchers? Tell me about your best search terms! Until next time, I remain the Queen and Super-Finder of Renegade Name-Labeled Regal Dog Portraits. Hmm, let them find that the next time they search for an “unusual situation”!

“Donna’s Picks” is my occasional feature to highlight other blogs, posts, or articles that may be of interest to my fellow genealogists. I haven’t posted many picks this year, but several articles caught my eye this week. Because some were in non-genealogy blogs, I wanted to pass them along. Sit back and enjoy the following links:

Christopher Columbus’ Genealogy (psst…don’t tell the Italians!) – Witaj w rodzinie to Christopher Columbus! (That’s Polish for “Welcome to the family.”) Researchers seem to think that the sometimes-Italian, sometimes-Portuguese explorer is descended from the Polish King Władysław III! There are dozens of news stories about the find, which they hope to prove with DNA testing. Read “Christopher Columbus was the son of a Polish king, historian says” from Medieval News on 11/29 and Christopher Columbus discovers…He Is POLISH from Stanczyk – Internet Muse today.

Haunting Images – I found some beautiful black and white photographs of tombstones at The Bow Tie Man (aka Daily Parallax) on 11/30 and 12/1. See them at Magnificent Markers and More Magnificent Markers. He needs to become a Graveyard Rabbit photographer!

Creative Family History – Denise Barrett Olson offers genealogists a great example of a creative way to present your family’s history. See Cecil B. DeMille is Calling, published at Moultrie Creek on 12/1. Get in touch with your inner filmmaker and you’ll have a great Christmas present to give your family!

How to Make Your Friends Jealous– All of us have been admiring Becky Wiseman’s travels for over a year now, and marveling at her beautiful photography. But Becky really made me (and Apple) jealous this week with Ahhh…. with apologies to Apple… published at kinexxions on 11/30. I’ll think of you, Becky, and hope you’re having a great time as I crank up the heat in my house!

The Jesse Tree in an Illuminated Manuscript

‘Tis the Season…to celebrate Jesus’ Family Tree – Advent is here, and one of the ways to celebrate the season is with a Jesse Tree. Jesse was the father of King David, and Jesus’ ancestor. Read more about this tradition in Who is Jesse and Why Should We Care About His Tree? published on 11/28 at Spiritual Woman. A great explanation on the history and ornaments can be found here at Catholic Culture. What’s interesting is that images in art of the Jesse Tree look like a reverse version of a genealogical tree in that Jesse is at the “bottom” of the tree, not at the top. This is depicted due to the prophecy in Isaiah 11:1 in which “a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.”

Enjoy the week, and don’t forget to stay tuned at Creative Gene for the 100th Edition of the Carnival of Genealogy that will appear this week!